Mounting and Restoration Techniques (Ancient Book Restoration Techniques)

Restoration of ancient books is a special skill. In the long course of history, fragile ancient books have been scattered and transferred, and destroyed by natural disasters and wars. Most of them are riddled with holes and in tatters. "Repairing the old as it is" and turning decay into magic are important links in protecting the integrity of ancient books from past dynasties. Therefore, people from all walks of life praise this skill as the "life-saving soup" of ancient books. To engage in the restoration of ancient books, one must not only be familiar with the form and version of books from various dynasties, but also understand the paper, book cover and binding style of each dynasty, and have skilled skills. Repairing an ancient book often requires more than a dozen or even dozens of processes, and each move is extremely sophisticated, and the requirements for the personnel engaged in the restoration of ancient books are even more demanding. The National Library of China is a comprehensive research library, the national general library, and the national bibliographic center. Its collection can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty, and the library has many precious ancient books. The National Library has a long history of document restoration work, and document restoration personnel were equipped as early as the Beijing Library period. In 1949, in order to repair the Zhaocheng Golden Collection, a national treasure that had just been collected by the Peking Library, a restoration team of 8 technicians was established with the approval of the then Military Control Commission, which is the predecessor of today's National Library Restoration Group. In 1953, the "Book Restoration Group" was officially established. Since then, the restoration of ancient books has embarked on a professional and regular development path as a full-time business of the library. In 2001, the "Book Restoration Group" was renamed the "Rare Books and Special Collections Restoration Group". The National Library's document restoration work has achieved relatively brilliant results in history. The restored national treasure-level precious documents include the Zhaocheng Golden Collection, the Yongle Encyclopedia, the Western Xia documents, some Dunhuang manuscripts and rare books from the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and the Qing Dynasty's "Fuyi Complete Book". It can be said that it is with the unremitting efforts of generations of National Library book repairers that the charm of each national treasure in the collection can be re-presented to the world. Beijing Yiyatang is a century-old brand famous for mounting and restoring ancient books, steles, calligraphy and paintings. It was opened during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, and the owner was Ding Mengsong. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, Yiyatang was extremely famous in Beijing for its mounting skills. At that time, many mounting masters in Beijing came from Yiyatang. In 1958, Yiyatang was owned by the China Bookstore, and three generations of mounting inheritors have worked hard here to repair more than 300,000 damaged and precious ancient books, including many rare and unique ones. At present, the situation of ancient book protection is very severe. At present, there are more than 10 million ancient books that need to be repaired in libraries, museums, and cultural relics management units across the country. However, according to statistics, there are less than 100 ancient book restoration talents in libraries across the country. In addition to the serious shortage of talents, there are also problems such as low comprehensive quality, low professional titles, and old age. Protecting the ancient book restoration skills is urgent.

Chinese Bookstore

Document restoration

Old City of Berne

Bern was founded in the 12th century on a hill surrounded by the Aare River. Over the centuries, Bern has been planned with great consistency. The buildings in the old town date from different periods, including 15th-century arcades and 16th-century fountains. Most of the medieval town was restored in the 18th century, but it still retains its original appearance.

Switzerland

18th century restoration

Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne

There has been a fortification on the hill where Carcassonne now stands since before Roman times. Its present appearance is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified city, with its massive ramparts surrounding the citadel and surrounding buildings, streets and fine Gothic cathedral. Carcassonne is also of special importance due to the long-term restoration campaign carried out by Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of modern conservation science.

France

Restoration activities

Tianjin Jingyuan

Jingyuan, located at No. 70 Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, was built in 1921, covers an area of about 3,016 square meters, and has a construction area of about 1,900 square meters. It is a historical building with special protection level in Tianjin and a cultural relic protection unit in Tianjin. Jingyuan was originally named Qianyuan, and was the residence of Lu Zongyu, the minister of the Beiyang government to Japan. From July 1929 to November 1931, the last emperor Puyi lived here with his empress Wanrong and concubine Wenxiu, and it was renamed "Jingyuan", which means "to be quiet to nourish my noble spirit". There is an eclectic brick-and-wood structure building in the garden, which integrates Spanish and Japanese styles. It is lush and quiet, and is a typical representative of the courtyard-style private residence during the Tianjin Concession period. After Puyi moved out, Jingyuan changed hands several times and went through changes. It was used as an office and a residence. 600 square meters of illegal buildings were built in the courtyard and the building. Before the renovation, it had become a veritable compound. On July 20, 2007, the restored Jingyuan was opened to the public as a national AAA-level tourist attraction, and has won the titles of "China Tourism Brand Charming Scenic Spot", Tianjin Patriotism Education Base, National Science Education Base and National Youth Civilized Unit. A house collects the details of several generations of owners, including senior officials of the Beiyang government, the last emperor and empress of the late Qing Dynasty, the commander-in-chief of the Tianjin Garrison of the Kuomintang, famous contemporary writers and artists, and many ordinary people who have never left their names. Walking into Jingyuan, it seems as if time and space are intertwined, the hustle and bustle of the city center is blocked by the high walls, and only the sound of birds is left as a long background. It is suitable for tourists who like history and architecture to take a quiet and slow tour.

Beijing and surrounding areas

repair

3A

Ming City Wall Ruins Park

The Ming City Wall was 40 kilometers long in history and was built in the 17th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1419 AD), with a history of more than 580 years. The existing wall ruins from Chongwen Gate to the southeast corner tower of the city are 1.5 kilometers long. They are part of the original inner city wall of Beijing, the only remaining section, and the symbol of Beijing. The southeast corner tower of the city is the largest corner tower of the city wall in the country. It was built in the first year of Zhengtong in the Ming Dynasty (1436 AD) and is a national key cultural relic protection unit. The Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is located in the city center. The Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park starts from the southeast corner tower in the east and ends at Chongwen Gate in the west. The total area of the Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is about 15.5 hectares. The city wall ruins and the southeast corner tower of the city occupy 3.3 hectares, and the green area of the Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park is 12.2 hectares. Due to years of disrepair and man-made damage, the city wall is seriously damaged. In order to protect the cultural heritage and reproduce the style of the ancient capital, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government conscientiously practiced the important thought of "Three Represents" and decided to thoroughly rectify the surrounding environment of the city wall ruins, repair the city wall, and build the Ming City Wall Ruins Park. The newly built Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins, with the protection of the city wall as the starting point and the purpose of showing the true appearance of the ancient city wall, provides citizens with a quiet, natural, simple and desolate environment. A closed lush green belt will be formed on the north side of the city wall, while the linear shape of the garden path and the configuration of plants on the south side of the city wall are simple and generous. The protection work of the city wall ruins is mainly based on the protection of the current situation and the reinforcement of risk elimination, supplemented by a small amount of gap filling, to preserve the original state of the city wall to the greatest extent. Standing under the city wall, a sense of historical solemnity and vicissitudes arises spontaneously.

Beijing and surrounding areas

repair

4A

Mir Castle Complex

The castle was originally built at the end of the 15th century in Gothic style. It was later expanded and rebuilt, first in Renaissance style and then in Baroque style. After being abandoned for nearly a century and suffering serious damage during the Napoleonic period, the castle was restored at the end of the 19th century, with the addition of many other elements and the transformation of the surrounding area into a park. Its current form bears vivid witness to its turbulent history.

Belarus

repair

Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing

The Summer Palace in Beijing was first built in 1750, mostly destroyed in the war of 1860, and restored on the original site in 1886. It is a masterpiece of Chinese garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open waters is combined with artificial landscapes such as pavilions, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious whole with outstanding aesthetic value.

China

repair

Dabei Zen Temple

Dabei Temple is named after the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, who is worshipped there. It is the largest and oldest Buddhist temple in Tianjin. After the liberation, the government repainted the corridors of the Buddhist temple, repaired the surrounding gables, and built dormitories for the monks to live in. The famous oracle bone expert, Mr. Wang Xiang, the first director of Tianjin Museum of Literature and History, was invited to write the seal script "Ancient Temple Dabei Temple" and engrave it on the mountain gate. During the ten-year catastrophe, the temple was looted and severely damaged. After the "Cultural Revolution", the Party's religious policy was implemented. In 1980, the restoration work began and the Buddha statues in the hall were rebuilt. In 1983, it was approved by the State Council as a national key open temple and officially opened to the public in 1986. Since the reform and opening up, with the further implementation of the policy of freedom of religious belief, Dabei Temple has also opened a new chapter in its history. On every new moon and full moon day or Buddhist festival, the temple is filled with incense and people flow in, receiving more than one million pilgrims and tourists every year. However, due to its small size, Dabei Zen Temple was far from meeting the needs of the development of the situation. First, in 1995, two two-story abbot's courtyards and a city Buddhist Association office building were built on the east side of the temple's central axis to solve the office and accommodation conditions. At the end of 2000, the new Daxiong Hall was completed. Three Burmese jade Buddhas are enshrined in the hall, each of which is five meters tall and weighs thirty tons, the largest jade Buddha in the north. The statues on the east and west are the statues of the twenty guardian gods, and the Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Guanyin statue is in the middle of the reverse seat. The "Six Saints" Guanyin statues are sculpted on both sides, highlighting that Dabei Zen Temple is the Guanyin dojo. The outer wall of the hall is painted red, and the base is surrounded by white marble railings. At a glance, the red walls and yellow tiles, the jade steps and red pillars are magnificent and spectacular.

Beijing and surrounding areas

repair

4A

Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork

This 13th-century fortified monastery belonged to the Teutonic Knights and was extensively expanded and embellished after the Grand Master's seat was moved here from Venice in 1309. A fine example of a medieval brick castle, the monastery fell into decay but was carefully restored in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many conservation techniques that are now considered standard were developed here. After suffering severe damage in World War II, the monastery was restored again, using detailed documentation prepared by earlier restorers.

Poland

Restoration Technology

Old City of Dubrovnik

The "Pearl of the Adriatic" on the Dalmatian coast has been an important maritime power in the Mediterranean since the 13th century. Despite being severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik has managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Armed conflict again took its toll on Dubrovnik in the 1990s, and it is now the focus of a major restoration program coordinated by UNESCO.

Croatia

Restoration Plan

Baiyangyu Great Wall

Baiyangyu is also known as Baiyang Pass. Baiyang Pass is famous for its majesty, and Lengkou is also known for its danger. Together, they are called "the majestic pass and dangerous pass". Baiyangyu Pass has Baiyang River flowing from north to south. The original pass was across the Baiyang River, connected to the Great Wall at both ends, called Baiyang Water Pass and Yanggu Pass. There are various passes in the Great Wall, but there are not many water passes, and even fewer are still in existence. Baiyang Water Pass is the source of the Baiyang River. The river channel of more than 500 meters above and below the water pass is full of sweet springs, making it a veritable water pass. Baiyang Water Pass is a double-channel water city, and the foundation of the enemy tower facing the water on the east bank still exists. Such a water pass in the Great Wall is unique to Baiyangyu. After reconstruction, Baiyang Water Pass will become the "best water pass in the Great Wall". Baiyangyu Tourist Area is located in Dacuizhuang Town, Qian'an City. The Baiyangyu Great Wall in the scenic area was built by the State of Yan during the Warring States Period and was repaired and reinforced during the Ming Dynasty. It has 21 towers and a well-preserved Great Wall of 4,552 meters. The marble Great Wall here is about 1.5 kilometers long, 10 meters high and 5 meters wide. The foundations of the enemy towers at the bottom of the city are mostly marble. The Wanli Pass is very rare and is the essence of the Great Wall.

Beijing and surrounding areas

Ming Dynasty Restoration

3A